akemann



Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,364

W. AKEMANN TRAINING MECHANISM FOR GUNS Filed Nov. 16 1920 4 Sheets$heet V 1 Z Fig.4.

Nov. 20, 1928.

W. AKEMANN TRAINING MECHANISM FOR GUNS Filed Nov. 16. 2 4 Sheets-Sheet Fig.3.

y 1 g A i 1 g a W 60 w Nov. 20, 1928, 1,692,364

w. AKEMANN TRAINING MECHANISM FOR GUNS Filed Nov. 16. 1920 4 Shgets-Sh llllIHIlllllllllllllllllHllllHllllllll Nov. 20, 1928.

' 1,692,364 w. AKEMANN TRAINING MECHANISM FOR GUNS Filed Nov. 16, 20

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ill Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STA TBS;

A, 1,692,364, PATENT OFFICE. 1

WAL'IHER AKEMANN, OE ESSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIG NMENTS, TO N. V. HAZEMEYERS SIGNAL-APPARATEN, 0F HENGELO, NETHERLANDS.

TRAINING MECHANISM non suns.

Application filed November 16, 1e20, serial No. 424,522, and in Germany April 12, 1917.

This invention relates to mechanism for simultaneously controlling the aiming of a plurality of guns on one and the same target from a single observation point 'or controlling statio The description which follows refers to the accompanying drawing, in which Figs. 1 and2 are diagrams illustrating the principle of the invention, and I Figs. 3 to 6 represent three difierent embodiments of the invention, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2. I

The geometrical principles on which the invention is based will first be discussed.

When it is desired to simultaneously aim aplurality of gunsof a coast defensestation or a battleship, from a common observation point, account must necessarily be taken of the different locations of the guns with respect to said observation point. v

The relation between the values entering into the problem will first be discussed with reference to the diagrams of Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 1, which represents one observation point and one gun, both of which may be carried by'a moving vehicle or vessel, A represents the observation point, A the gun mount and A the target. The difference in location is therefore represented by the line AA which includes, when extended, with the line AA connecting the observation point A with the target A the angle designated a. The lines A--'A and A 1 enclose the angle ,8, and the lines AA and A 2 the angle 7. The perpendicular from A to line AA strikes said line in the point A. There is also drawn through A a line parallel to A-A which includes, with the line A A as will be obvious, an angle equal to the angle y, included by A A and A A The equation for these angles a, ,8 and therefore is:

'Y a 1 Also in the triangle A A A.

tan 7 m or, since,

A A =A A sin a, and A A"=AA"A A =A A"+A A cos a, therefore:

AA sin a- -m.;. But A A cos a is always Very small relatively to A A so that it is approximately true that v (3) tan =22,- sin ea,

In .further approximation, since naturally only very small angles are involved by 'y, it can be assumed;

7=tan '7, and th erei'ore,

. AA (4) a: 7 2' $111 that is to say, the angle y is directly proportional to the difference of location and to the sin a, but inversely proportional .to the distance of the target. This relation is made use of in the following, in order to obtain mechanically, from the measured target distance A A from the observed angle a, and from the known location difference A A the angle 'y,WhiCl1 is im- 1 that is to say, values of 7 which bear. the

same relation to each other as the location diffe'rences betweenthe observation point and.

the respective guns. Accordingly, in order to find-the correct lateral sighting angles [3,, 3 ,13 for the individual guns, to form the expressions:

by diminishing. the angle a, determined by the observer, through the angle 7y, determined in each instance by equations (5') to (7). Since the angle :y can have either positive or no it is necessary 10o negative values according as to whether the f angle a is greater or less than 180, and according to the position of the observation point relatively to the guns, the equations (8) to (10) really express that the lateral sighting angle B of each gun equals the algebraic sum of the angles a and The present invention therefore consists in a lateral sighting or training mechanism for us of the kind mentioned, in which a special intermediate transmission. mechanism is provided between the transmitter at the observation point, and the receiving devices at the various gun stations, the function of said intermediate transmission mechanism being first to mechanically derive the auxiliar angle y from the angle or, obtained by sig ting on the target, and secondly to mec'hanically form the algebraic sum of angles a and or to carry out one of the two said functions. we

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6,which are based upon the diagram of Fig. 2, Fig. 3 represents one embodiment of the invention, while Fig. 4 is a section on line 1-4 of Fig. 3 looking from the left.

At the observation point B (Fig. 2) is a sighting telescope D (Fig. 3), rotatable about a vertical axls by a worm drive d d and a hand wheel d on the worm shaft d transmission apparatus.

whereby it can be sighted on the target. On-

mechanism, is constructed as follows:

On the armature shaft f of the auxiliary receiver Fare keyed two spur gears f and i of which f meshes with the'toothed periphery g of a drum G, having one of its front ends open and journalled in a fixed frame 9 in which is also j ournalled a graduated drum 9 provided on its periphery with a helical scale or graduations and which can be adjusted by means of a hand wheel g relatively.to a mark 9 movable parallel to the axis of the drum 9*, to different values of the distance B B, Fig. 2, between the target and the observation point. The drum g is positively connected, by means of a evel gear and worm, with a worm wheel 9 freely rotatable about the hub g of the drum G and rigidly connected with a bevel gear 9* by a hollow shaft 9 A second similar bevel gear i is rigidly connected by its shaft f,

in alignment with the axis of the drum G, with 'a spur gear f which meshes with the second spur gear i mounted on the shaft f and already mentioned. The ratios at the drives f 9 and) f 'arethe same and are so selected, in combination with the ratio between the telescope D and the transmitter d, as well as between-the-latter and the receiver F that between the telescope D on the one hand and the drum G, as well-as the shaft f", on the other hand, the transmission ratio is as 1: 1.

The two bevel gears g and f form the sun wheels of a sun and planet drive, the

planet gear-g of which'is loosely mounted on a right-an led projecting arm g of a shaft 9 coaxial with the drum G and pass- Y ing through the hollow shaft 9 and the drum hub g. On the end of the shaft 9 which projects into the drum G, is keyed a bevel gear 9 which meshes with a bevel gear 9 keyed on a shaft 9 which is journalled within the drum G so that its axis coincides with a diameter of said drum and is screwthreaded at g for about half its length. On this threaded portion 9 engages the nut 72, which is formed by one end of an arm H, lying in the axis of the drum and carrying at its other end a pin if, on which is a block b slidably guided in a guideway k As the drum G rotates, said pin 72. constitutes a crank-pin, having a crank-arm of variable length, which is determined by the .distance of the axis of the arm H from the axis of the drum G. By rotation of the bevel gear 9 keyed on the spindle 9 and the consequent displacement of the nut b the length of the crank-arm can be adjusted to various amounts, the arrangement being such that the crank-arm attains its greatest length when the pointer 9 indicates the lowest value of the corresponding distance graduation (drum 9 and vice versa. Therefore, in order to make the length of the crank-arm inversely proportional to the Tdistance between observation point and target, it is only necessary, as will now be evident, to adjust llcl the graduated drum g to the desired distance value by means of the hand-wheel 9 On account of the provision of the sun and planet drive f g", gfi it is quite immaterial whether the drum G and shaft G revolve or whether it remains stationary. If the drum G does rotate, then, on account of the equality of the transmission ratios of the,

spur gear drives f g and f f, and on acdirection of movement of the pin k thus forming, in combination with the arm H, ad justable longitudinally of the screw spindle g, a slide crank drive, which comprises a reciprocatory portion (guide h) of variable stroke, and a rotary portion (pin if) of variable crank radius. In consequence of the construction described, the travel of the guide '71. in its guideway h whenthedrum' G is turned through a given angle, is proportional to the sine of said angle. a

To the guideway h is rigidly connected a rack k extending parallel to the guideway It and which meshes with a pinion i keyed on a shaft J, on which are also mounted three bevel gears 2' corresponding in number to the guns to be sighted. Each of said gears meshes with another bevel gear 1?, with which is positively connected, through a spur gear drive 5 t the one sun gear i of a-sun and planet drive 2' z" i The other sungear i of each of said drives is positively connected,by a bevel gear drive 2 f, with the auxiliary receiver shaft 7". The same ratio is given the bevel gears f and 6 as the spur gears f and f. Each of the planet gears z" serves to drive an auxiliary transmitter 11 all three of which are connected to the main receivers (not shown) which belong to the individual guns.

In order to obtain the proper direction of rotation, in accordance with the position of the respective gun station relativelyto the observation point (Fig. 2), of each' ofthe auxiliary transmitters z'" and ofthe main receivers connected thereto, one, of the three bevel gear pairs 2' 2' is so arranged that the driven gear 2' must run' in the opposite direction to the driven gear of the other two bevel gear pairs. Further, the difference in the distance of the individual guns from the observation point is taken careof by the proper'selection of the transmission ratio of the spur gear drives 2'' 5 This .provides that when the shaft 7 is rotated by the auxiliary receiver F, the sun gears i undergo angular alterations which satisfy the equations (5) to (7), deduced for the angles y 'y and Since also each of the three sun gears 2' must turn. in the said rotation of the shaft" f through an angle a, therefore angular alterations B ,8 and ,8 which satisfy to the equations (8) to (10) are transmitted to the auxiliary transmitters i Now, when a lateral sighting movement is to be transmitted from the observation point B, Figf 2. to the guns located at the points B, B and B which movement is there used either for automatic aiming of the guns .or causes a suitable actuation of a mechanism adapted to indicate the lateral aimingg the first thing is to communicate the distance B B, obtained at, the observation point B,'to

the operator of the intermediate. transmitter apparatus. He then adjusts the drum 9 by turning the hand-wheel 9 Fig. 3, so that the pointer 9 stands opposite the correspondingdistance graduation line. In doing this,

the planet gear g rolls on the bevel "gear 7? and turns the shaft. 9 'The bevel gear g transmits this rotationto the bevel gear- 9 and shaft'g, and the nut k of the arm H is displaced on the screw spindle 9 through I a corresponding distance and the slide block it, containing the crank pin k Fig. 4, slides in the guide. It until the pin b has taken such a'position that the crank radius, measured from its axis to the axis of the drum G, of the crank slide mechanism Hh attains a-value corresponding'to the adjusted distance from the observation. pointto the target. If now the hand wheel d is turned until the telescope Dis sighted on the target,

.at which operation the telescope receives an angular alteration at, then the drum G and the bevel gear 9 driven through the bevel gear drive f g g, are turned in the same direction through the angle a, in consequence of the connection of the main transmitter d with the auxiliary receiver F of the intermediate transmitter apparatus. and of the transmission ratio 1 z 1 between the telescope D and the shaft f as well as the drum G.

Exactly the same angular alteration is imparted at the same time to the sun wheels i of the threesun and planet drivesz' i i appertaining to the individual guns, and to the arm H which partakes in the rotation of the drum G. The change in angle, transmitted by the crank slide mechanism Hh,

and rack drive k i to the shaft J, is therefore proportional to sine (1.. In consequence of the rotation of the shaft J, the sunwheels 71, positively connected therewith, receive. an

angular alteration, determined as to amount and direction of rotation, by the arrangement of the bevel gear pairs 2' i and the trans- -mission ratio of the spur gear drives 2' 2', .which alteration as before stated, is equal to said angles y, or y which are to be algebraically added to the angle a, when the lateral sighting angles B ,8, or ,8 of the guns are to be obtained. This algebraic addition is oerformed by the sun and, planet drives 12'? 2' 5", so that the'auxilia-rytransmitters i and the main receivers, (not shown), connected thereto through the switch M receive the prescribed angular alterations B B or B Now'each gun can be directly given the prescribed lateraldirection according to the indications of .the apparatus, connected to the main receivers and'showing the lateral sighting direction angle or by means of a de-- to make the necessary adjustment on the hand-wheel gt- In consequence of the disposition of the drum g in the fixed frame 9 and in consequence of the arrangement of the sun and planet drive 9 g f', he can, without leaving his place, always make the correct distance value adjustment, so that the correct indications are always transmitted to the receivers located at the guns.

The second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Fig. 5 differs from the one just described in that on the shaft f of the intermediate transmittin-g mechanismthe bevel gears f and the sun and planet mechanisms i i i, driven thereby, being 0lI1ltted-3,Il auxiliary transmitter f is mounted which is connected by a conductor N, divided into three parallel branches n n u to a device P, indicating the angle a, for each of the three guns. In addition to these devices P, indicating the angle oz, there is l'ocated at each gun a device P for indicating the angles Y2 and y which are each fed by a special auxiliary transmitter 2' Thesetransmitters 2' are driven through bevel gears drives 4 2' from the pinion shaft J, which is driven by the crank slide mechanism Hk of the intermediate transmission mechanism. The bevel gear drivesz' 71 are so arranged and have suclrtransmission ratios that the angular alterations imparted to the auxiliary transmitters are equal to the angles Y2 and y which are to be algebraically added to the angle a, in order to obtain the lateral sighting angles ,8 8 and ,8 of the guns. The devices P and P are provided with pointers p and p by means of which the angle or 31nd the angles 72 and can be read on graduated discs. Furthermore, trailer pointers or following marks 9 g are arranged coaxially with the pointers p and p and revoluble independently of the Same, of which one, is driven by the planet gear 9 of a sun and planet drive, the sun gears g and g of which are positively connected on the one hand with a circular rack 9 mounted on the gun carriage Q, and on the other hand through spur gears g, g and with ahand-wheel 9. serving to actuate the other following -mark 9 For directing the gun carriage Q, another hand-wheel g is pmovided, which is positively connected by a vel gear drive sun and planet drive 9, g g and positively connected to the hand-wheel g remains stationary. On the other hand, when said hand wheel g is turned, the sum or difference of the rotations of the sun gears g and 9 must be transmittedto the mark g Consequently the latter, after'it has been placed over the pointer 39 by a rotation of the hand-wheel must take a position different fromthat of the pointer 12 as soon as the markfg has been brought into coincidence with its ointer p by means of the .hand'wheel g". It is however, only by a second turning of the handwheel q that the mark 9 is definitely brought into coincidence with its pointer 12, and at the same time the carriage Q is brought into the position corresponding to the lateral sighting angles [2 B or B and prescribed by the algebraic sum of the angles on and Y1, Y2 01: Y3-

In using the apparatus of Fig. 5, one begins with the assumption that allvthe guns Q are adjusted tothe lateral direction in-which is ,B=O and that the pointers p and the corresponding. marks 9 g coincide at all the indicators P and P i Now when by directing'the'telescope on the target, the angular alteration a is transmitted to the indicators P, the pointers p assume the. corresponding positions, equal to each other, while the pointers p receive displacements corresponding to relatively different values y,, and y Thereupon, at each gun, by turning the hand-wheel g, the carriage Q is turned about its verticalaxis in a direction which causes the corresponding following mark g? to turn in the same direction as the pointer 19 until it comes into coincidence with this latter. By then turn ing the hand-wheel q coincidence of the mark 9 with the pointer'p is established. Since in so doing, the planet gear g rolling on the stationary bevel gear 9*, causes a displacement of the marks 9 the coincidence of the pointer 12 and the mark 4 is again lost, but is restored by again turning the hand-wheel g Since, in the last mentioned;

adjustment of the'm'ark g the coincidence of the mark 9 and the pointer '72 does not undergo any change, the carriage Q of each gun undergoes a' rotation corresponding to the size of the angle and ,,,-so that now .the lateral directing angle 3 ,19 and B is actually imparted to each gun, WlllCll angle representsthe algebraic sum of the angular alterations or and 7 and y v V If the crank slide drive Hh is brought into direct positive connection with the driving member d of the main transmitter d the arrangement will be that shown in Fig. 6. This differs from those hereinbefore described further in that an auxiliary transmitter 2' is coupled to the pinion shaft J its functonbeing to feed an auxiliary receiver i, serving, in combination with the auxiliary receiver F, to drive the intermediate transmission mechanism. The receiver 2' is positively connected With a shaft 71 on Which are secured the bevel gears i shown also in Fig. 3, which drive the sun gears 11 of the sun and planet drives 2' i i The auxiliary transmitters z' are positively connected with the planet gears 11 in exactly the same Way as in the arrangement of Fig. 3. Accordingly, the arrangement of Fig. 6 differs from that of Fig. 3, as far as its operation is concerned, only in the fact that the adjustment of the scale drum g for variable distances must be made at the observation point. It can therefore be worked by the same operator who has charge of the directing of the telescope D on the target. A special operator for the intermediate transmission mechanism is therefore not required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for imparting the lateral direction to a plurality of guns from a distant observation point, comprising a telescope at said point, an electric transmitter mechanically connected to said telescope to rotate therewith, an electric receiver electrically connected to said transmitter, an auxiliary electric transmitter for each gun operatively connected to a corresponding receiver at each gun, which controls the directing thereof, and a transmission gearing between said first named receiver and said auxiliary transmitters including a rotatable element positively connected to said first named receiver and ad justable in accordance with the distance of the target from the observation point and an element positively connected to said auxiliary transmitters and movable in a straight line, said elements constituting a slide crank deyice forming part of said transmission gearmg.

2. An apparatus for imparting the lateral training to a plurality of guns from a distant observation point comprising a sighting device disposed at said observation point, gun training mechanism at each gun to be actuated in dependence on the lateral movements of said sighting device, an intermediate transmitter apparatus, said apparatus embodying a slide crank device, an adjustable crank forming a part of said crank device, means including a sun and planet gear for operating said adjustable crank, an electrical distance control connecting said last mentioned means to said sighting device, said adjustable crank being rotatable proportionally to the lateral sighting angle of said sighting device, an indicating device provided with a stationary support and means operatively connecting said indicating device to one gear' of said sun and planet gear and electrical distance control means connecting said intermediate transmitter apparatus to said guns.

3. An apparatus for imparting lateral direction to a plurality of guns from a distant observation point comprising a sighting device located at said point, an intermediate transmitter apparatus, distance adjusting mechanism connecting said sighting device to said intermediate transmitter apparatus and gun training mechanism at each gun, each mechanism] embodying receivers each provided with a pointer, one of said receivers being adjustable in accordancewith the lateral adjustment of said sighting device, said I other receiver being adjusted by said intermediate transmitter apparatus, a gauge-mark associated. with the pointer of each receiver, training mechanism for each gun, a sun and planet gearing operatively connected with said training mechanism, one of said gauge marks being operatively connected to one of the gears of said sun and planet gearing and means operatively connected to said sun and planet gearing for moving the other of said gauge marks whereby each gun may be trained laterally in accordance with the readings of its associated two receivers.

The foregoing specification signed at Essen, Germany, this 16th day of J une, I920.

DR. WALTHER AKEMANN. 

